Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Jan 19 2007
Turkish general says journalist’s killing a trap
Istanbul, 19 January: Retired General Edip Baser, Turkey’s special
representative for countering terrorism, said murder of Hrant Dink,
editor-in-chief of bilingual Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos, is a trap
in order to put Turkey on the spot in terms of its international
relations and added that Turkey should not walk into this trap.
The retired general told Anatolia that this is a very sad event. "The
murder of one of our citizens in such a mean terrorist attack is very
sad in the first place. On the other hand, one has to see the trap
set for Turkey and one must be sensible in order not to walk into
this trap. In my opinion, all our citizens, no matter from which
ethnicity, should act with reason regarding these issues," said
Baser.
"I think this was a trap to put Turkey on the spot in terms of
international relations. Especially in a period when Armenian claims
of genocide are brought to spotlight, that such an attack should
occur these days when all Turkey’s attention is on the troubled
region in the south (north of Iraq), raises questions about different
intentions," continued retired Gen Baser.
Baser said one of the aims can be to reach faster solutions in
countries where the claims of the so-called Armenian genocide will be
discussed.
Turkey’s special representative for countering terrorism said another
reason could be to direct Turkey’s attention from Iraq and the
national interests there, and keep Turkey busy with internal
conflicts.
Baser, who drew attention to journalist identity of Dink, said his
assassination will attract reactions from more than one aspect.
"Those who planned this attack calculate the reactions, its zone of
influence, therefore they select people such as Dink in order to have
a wider zone of influence."
Retired Gen Baser offered his condolences to everyone, Armenian
citizens in particular.